Fire-door and operating mechanism therefor.



L. A. HARDIN.

FIRE DOOR AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

I APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 8, 1913.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII CD.,WASHIN GGGGGG r avwewcoz L. A. HARDIN.

FIRE DOOR AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1913.

E W V i w k 1 Was A um n awn m a um mww t 7 M 2 a P w 9 I 01 51 01 3 m 3 7h 8 7 O 4 8 1 5 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH Cn., WASHINGTON. D! c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LoUIs A. HARDIN, or BOONE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 JOHN E. OSMER, 0F BOONE, IOWA.

FIRE-DOOR AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

Application filed January 8, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 740,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. HARDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boone, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ire-Doors and Operating Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fire doors and operating mechanism therefor.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved fire door and operating mechanism therefor which is simple in structure and easily operated. Second, to provide an improved fire door which remains closed in the event of an accident such as the bursting of a flue or the like. Third, to provide an improved fire door structure which facilitates the spreading of the fuel within the fire pot. Further objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow,

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail front elevation of a structure embodying the features of my invention, the front wall of the furnace being shown in conventional form. Fig. II is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. I. Fig. III is an enlarged detail vertical section of the operating fluid control valve. Fig. IV is a hori zontal section on a line corresponding to line l4l of Fig. III. Fig. V is an inside elevation of the fire door housing removed from the wall, the flange 3 being omitted. Fig. VI is a detail horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. I.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated my improvements as applied to a locomotive boiler.

The front wall 1 is provided with a fire door opening 2. On the front wall I mount a door casing 3 provided with a forwardly projecting housing 4:. The front of the housing is inclined downwardly and rear wardly. The door opening 5 is surrounded by an inwardly projecting flange, the flange at the bottom of the door opening being curved upwardly as clearly shown in Fig. I. The door 6 is arranged within the housing to swing upwardly and rearwardly, the door being pivotally supported by the rod 7 arranged through a knuckle 8 at its upper end. This knuckle is preferably in bearing engagement with the flange across the top of the door opening, as shown in Fig. II. When the door is closed, it rests against the inside of the flange, as shown in Fig. II.

I have illustrated the door as being in the form of a plate. It will be understood that it may be. double walled or chambered and provided with air openings as may be desired.

The lever 9 projects upwardly from the upper end of the door and is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 with which the pin 11 on the plunger rod 12 engages.

The cylinder 13 for the plunger 14f is mounted upon the housing at. The plunger is returned to its normal position by the coiled spring 15 arranged within the cylinder to engage the plunger, as shown. The fluid pressure pipe 16 is connected to the inner end of the cylinder, the pipe being controlled by the valve17 arranged below the deck 18. The valve 17 is provided with a port 19 adapted to connect the pipe 16 with the exhaust port 20 when the valve is in the position shown in Figs. II and III. When the valve is actuated, the pipe 16 is connected to the supply pipe 21 through the valve casing 22. The stem 23 of the valve is arranged through the floor plate 25 and provided with a foot piece 26 so that the valve may be actuated by the foot of the operator. The spring 27 returns the valve to its normal or exhaust position. The valve is provided with a longitudinal groove 28 with which the screw 29 engages to prevent rotation of the valve.

The lever 9 is adapted as a hand lever and is provided with a latch 30, which, in the position shown by full lines in Fig. II, engages the lever when the door is swung open and retains the door in its open position. This is intended for use when there is no fluid pressure for operating the door. WVhen the door is operated by a fluid pressure, the lever is swung to its inoperative position shown by dotted lines in Fig. II.

To operate the door by fluid pressure, the valve is actuated through the foot piece 26 which admits the air or steam or other fluid under pressure to the inner end of the cylinder and this actuates the plunger and thus opens the door. To close the door, the valve is released and is returned to its normal or exhausting posit-ion by means of the spring 27. This exhausts the cylinder and the door is closed by the spring 15. The door closes against the flange, preventing the door being blown open by an explosion within the fire pot such as is likely to occur as a result of a leaking or burst flue.

By curving the flange at the bottom of the door opening, the shovel handle may be rested on the same and is easily slid or rocked toward either side, thus facilitating the spreading of the fuel within the fire pot.

I have illustrated my improvements as applied to a locomotive boiler. I desire to state that they may be readily adapted to a stationary boiler or the like. I have illustrated my improvements with various parts in conventional form. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe the various modifications which I contemplate as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, to embody the same as conditions may require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fire door, the combination of a door frame comprising a forwardly projecting housing having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front with a door opening therein surrounded by an inwardly projecting flange, a door arranged within said housing and pivoted at its upper end to swing upwardly and rearwardly in opening and adapted to close against said flange, a longitudinally slotted lever projecting upwardly from said door, said lever being adapted as a hand lever, a latch coacting with said lever to hold the door in its open position, said latch being adapted to be adjusted to an inoperative position, a cylinder mounted on said housing, a plunger for said cylinder, a plunger rod projecting from the forward end of said cylinder and provided with a pin engaging said slot of said lever,

a return spring for said plunger, and a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

In a fire door, the combination of a door frame comprising a forwardly project ing housing, a door arranged within said housing and pivoted at its upper end to swing upwardly and rearwardly in opening,

a longitudinally slot-ted lever projecting upwardly from said door, said lever being adapted as a hand lever, a latch coacting with said lever to hold the door in its open position, said latch being adapted to be adj usted to an inoperative position, a cylinder mounted on said housing, a plunger for said cylinder, a plunger rod projecting from the forward end of said cylinder and provided with a pin engaging said slot of said lever, a return spring for said plunger, and a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

In a fire door, the combination of a door frame comprising a forwardly projecting housing having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front with a door opening therein surrounded by an inwardly projecting flange, a door arranged within said housing and pivoted at its upper end to swing upwardly and rearwardly in opening and adapted to close against said flange, a lever projecting upwardly from said door, said lever being adapted as a hand lever, a pivoted lever disposed to rest on the upper end of said lever to engage when the door is open, whereby the door is held in its open position, said latch being adapted to be adjusted to an inoperative position, a cylinder, a plunger for said cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said lever, a return spring for said plunger, and a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

4. In a fire door, the combination of a door frame comprising a forwardly projecting housing, a door arranged within said housing and pivoted at its upper end to swing upwardly and rearwardly in opening, a lever projecting upwardly from said door, said lever being adapted as a hand lever, its upper end being turned rearwardly, a latch disposed to rest on the inturned end of said lever and to engage when the door is in its open position, said latch being adapted to be adjusted to an inoperative position, a cylinder, a plunger for said cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said lever, a return spring for said plunger, and a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

In a fire door, the combination of a door frame comprising a forwardly projecting housing having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front with a door open- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal 1n the presence of two 10 witnesses.

ing therein surrounded by an inwardly pr0- jeeting flange, the flange at the lower edge of? the door opening being upwardly curved to provide a curved implement rest, and a door arranged within said housing and pivoted at its upper end to swing upwardly and rearwerdly in opening and adapted to close against said flange.

LOUIS A. HARDIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenu, Washington, D. C." 

